Tailoring and characterization of carbon nanotube dispersity in CNT/6061Al composites

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. A, Structural materials : properties, microstructure and processing Vol. 757; pp. 172 - 181
• Main Authors: Chen, Malin, Fan, Genlian, Tan, Zhanqiu, Yuan, Chao, Xiong, Dingbang, Guo, Qiang, Su, Yishi, Naito, Makio, Li, Zhiqiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 29-05-2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Aluminum base alloys; Bonding strength; Carbon; Carbon nanotubes; Carbon nanotubes reinforced aluminum composites; Composite materials; Dispersion; Electrons; Flake powder metallurgy; Interface reactions; Mapping; Mechanical properties; Pre-dispersion; Raman spectroscopy; Raman spectroscopy mapping; Spectrum analysis; Spherical powders; Structural integrity; Raman spectroscopy mapping; Mechanical properties; Pre-dispersion; Carbon nanotubes reinforced aluminum composites; Flake powder metallurgy
• ISSN: 0921-5093; 1873-4936
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2019.04.093

The dispersity of carbon nanotubes in CNT/6061Al composites was tailored by varying the pre-dispersion state of CNTs on Al spherical powders, which was controlled by the high-shear pre-dispersion process. The difference in the dispersity and structural integrity of carbon nanotubes and the degree of interfacial reaction in the composites were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy mapping. The results show that Raman spectroscopy mapping is sensitive and can be used as a mesoscopic tool to evaluation of the overall status of CNTs in the composite. It also show that the slight adjust of the pre-dispersion state of the CNTs can achieve an improvement of tensile strength up to about 50 MPa. Specifically, under appropriate pre-mixing speed which makes CNTs partially embedded in the surface of Al powders, uniform dispersion of CNTs and good interface bonding can be simultaneously achieved, resulting in higher strengthening effect and good ductility.